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KEY Chapter 5: Ancient India Section 2: Origins of Hinduism Big Idea Hinduism, the largest religion in India today, developed out of ancient Indian beliefs and practices. Indian Society Divides Vocabulary 1) caste system – division of Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, or occupation. As Aryan society became more complex, their society was divided into groups. Strict rules developed about how people from different groups could interact. The Varnas Varnas are social divisions. There are four main varnas: Brahmins – priests Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors Vaisyas – farmers, craftspeople, and traders Sudras – laborers and non-Aryans. The Caste System Varnas were eventually divided further into many castes. The caste to which a person belonged to determined his or her place in society. Certain castes gained power or lost favor depending on how the caste members gained wealth or power. Early on, women had many of the same rights as men, but laws were passed to limit these rights. A segment of the population that did not belong to any caste was called the untouchables and they could only hold certain unpleasant jobs. Caste Rules People were not allowed to marry anyone from another caste. People were not allowed to eat with anyone from another caste. People who broke the rules were kicked out of their homes and castes, and became untouchables. Brahmanism Aryan priests were called Brahmins, so their religion became known as Brahmanism. The Vedas There are four Vedas (religious texts) containing sacred hymns and poems. The oldest of the Vedas is called the Rigveda. Passages in it praise various gods. Later Vedic Texts Aryan Brahmins (priests) wrote down their thoughts about the Vedas. These became known as the Vedic texts. They described things such as: Aryan religious rituals. How sacrifices should be performed. Secret rituals that could only be performed in the forest, away from everyone else. The final group of Vedic texts are the Upanishads, which were written around 600 BC. These are reflections on the Vedas by religious students and teachers. Hinduism Develops Vocabulary 1) Hinduism – the largest religion in India 2) Reincarnation – the rebirth process of a person’s soul. 3) Karma – the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul. When the teachings of the Vedas began to blend with ideas from other cultures it created a religion called Hinduism. Hindu Beliefs Hinduism is polytheistic because there is a belief in many gods. Hindus believe that there is a universal spirit called Brahman. Gods represent different aspects of Brahman. The three major gods are: Brahma – the Creator Siva (or Shiva) – the Destroyer Vishnu – the Preserver Life and Rebirth Hindus believe that everyone has a soul, or atman. The goal is to have their soul reunited with the soul of Brahman, the universal spirit. Hindus believe in reincarnation. It may take several lifetimes for the soul to be reunited with the soul of Brahman. Souls are born and reborn several times in Hindu belief. Hinduism and the Caste System According to Hinduism, a person who has died is reborn into a new form, depending on his or her karma. If someone was evil, then he or she is reborn into a lower caste or lower life form (such as an animal.) People who are good are reborn into higher castes, until they eventually receive moksha, or freedom from life’s worries and the cycles of rebirth. Hinduism also taught that each person had a special set of duties, called their dharma. To fulfill one’s dharma, one had to accept his or her station in life. This belief helped preserve the caste system. Groups React to Hinduism Vocabulary 1) Jainism – religion based on the teachings of Mahavira that emphasized nonviolence. 2) Nonviolence – the avoidance of violent actions. 3) Sikhism – religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak that blends ideas from Hinduism with ideas from Islam and other religions. Jainism Mahavira was raised as a Hindu, but he thought that Hinduism put too much emphasis on ritual. His teaching emphasize four basic principles: 1) 2) 3) 4) Injure no life Tell the truth Do not steal Own no property Jains practiced nonviolence. The Sanskrit word for nonviolence is ahimsa. Jains believe that all living things are part of the cycle of rebirth, and they do not sacrifice animals as the ancient Brahmins did. In fact, they are vegetarians. Sikhism Guru (or teacher) Nanak traveled and came into contact with many other religions including Islam, which he blended with Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic. Sikhs believe in one god, and the ultimate goal is to be reunited with God after death. To do so, Sikhs must meditate to seek enlightenment. This process may take several lifetimes, so Sikhs believe in reincarnation. Sikhs believe all people should be treated equally, and therefore don’t believe in the caste system.